Gardaí have renewed an appeal for witnesses in relation to what they described as a "callous and cowardly" aggravated burglary in Co Sligo last month, which has left a 73-year-old man on life support.
Tom Niland sustained serious injuries following an attack at his home on 18 January.
Gardaí said he was watching television at his house in Skreen when he answered a knock on the door at around 7pm.
Mr Niland was met by three masked men, who forced their way into the property and subjected him to a serious assault.
The raiders, who had reversed a car into the drive of the house, fled the scene shortly afterwards with a sum of cash.
Mr Niland, who was living alone, managed to alert passing motorists and was taken to Sligo University Hospital.
He had sustained injuries to his head and upper body but was able to provide gardaí with some information in the days following the robbery.Since then, however, Mr Niland's condition has deteriorated significantly and he is now on life support.
Gardaí are particularly keen to talk to anyone who was in the Skreen/Dromard area between 4pm and 8pm on the day - or motorists who were travelling on the N59 between Sligo and Ballina.
Superintendent Mandy Gaynor said that someone had information about the assault, and she appealed for them to come forward.
Supt Gaynor said a large scale criminal investigation into the assault was now under way, with ongoing inquiries, forensic analysis and CCTV material being examined.
"There are people out there who know who was involved in this aggravated burglary and serious assault on an elderly man in his home.
"Thomas Niland and his family deserve to have these criminals who carried out this heartless act brought to justice," she said.
Supt Gaynor said Mr Niland was living a peaceful life in his home and was not causing bother to anyone.
"Tom is a true gentleman, a very strong man, he worked as a farmer for most of his life," Supt Gaynor told reporters at a press conference in Sligo earlier.
She described the victim as a great neighbour and friend to everyone. "Everybody is just shocked and sad really that this has happened to Tom," she added.
Security or dashcam footage could prove especially useful to the investigation, the superintendent said.
Those with video of this kind are being asked to make it available to gardaí.
